Every “serious” runner should do a trail race at least once, and preferably once a year, as a reminder that racing doesn’t have to be taken so seriously, other runners are friendly and distance is relative.
1. TRAIL RACE ORGANIZERS DGAF
Google it if you don’t know what it stands for but basically it means they don’t sweat the small stuff and, everything is small stuff. This is not to say the race isn’t well organized because it was extremely well organized but, unlike road races:
- The distance of 10k is just a suggestion. The actual distance according to the Garmin God strapped to my wrist was 6.82 miles.
- The pre-race announcements started with “get to the start people!” and ended with “this race is REALLY hard so I don’t want to hear ‘that was so hard’ at the finish line!”
- The course description read: “We will run the same loop again this year, with some adjustments made here and there, but not everywhere.”
- The trail map was of treasure island. Last year it was Candy Land.
2. RUNNERS WERE SUPER FREINDLY
Before you get your compression socks twisted, I’m not saying runners typically are not friendly but, during this trail race I had actual mid-race conversations…about the scenery.
Now, I wasn’t at the front of the pack but usually when I race everyone around me is silent and laser focused. Not at the Pogue! Grown ass men were saying things to me like:
- This is stunning! …and it was
- Now that we’ve reached the pogue I want to jump in! …I did too but we were only at mile 2, and also a “pogue” is a small body of water like a pond…basically it is a pond but called a pogue and no one knows why. That clears it up, right?
- It’s a shame everyone is just running right by this …“this” was this…
3. BLING AND PRIZES WERE GOAT!
Ok, maybe I’m getting a little carried away with this one but I couldn’t care less about a finisher’s medal so when I heard the Road to the Pogue gave out trucker’s hats to all the finishers, I was in!
Sadly, I was not fast enough to get the second (or third) best prize – a growler of pure Vermont maple syrup or liquid gold! The top finisher’s also received a carved cutting board with the race name and their place, obviously for cutting enormous blocks of Cabot cheese to pair with their wine and syrup! So jealous.
4. THE MEANDERING FAST FINISH
This course was very tricky and kept me guessing almost the entire time. First of all those DGAF race organizers haphazardly placed mile markers pretty much wherever. If it wasn’t for my Garmin I may have believed mile 1 was really THAT long (the marker was placed almost at mile 2) and that mile marker 6 actually indicated the finish line was close. Ha!
After climbing over 1,300 feet, it felt amazing to race downhill for the last couple of miles (?) but the finish line was deceptively far. I could hear the crowd and foolishly thought I was close but they looped us around quite a bit, had one more short but steep uphill section, a giant expanse of mud and a few sharp turns before the actual finish came into view.
It was worth every “extra” step!
5. THE PANCAKE BREAKFAST PARTY
What else would be at the finish of an epic Vermont race then homemade pancakes with pure Vermont maple syrup? Oh and my family was there too.
I discovered the only thing better than skiing Vermont, is trail running or hiking in Vermont. We discovered a new place to hike with the kids and I had an amazing, laid back and super fun race experience. And I was happy with my seventh place (out of 50) age group finish too, although next year I will be gunning for that vat of syrup!
Obviously I highly recommend this race or, really any trail race, to shake things up a bit and as a reminder of how fun and enjoyable racing can be.
I can’t wait to do it again next year, and I may have even convinced my husband to do it too. He’s motivated by any kind of food as a prize.
Do you trail race or run? What do you love/hate about it?
What is the best thing you received for a finisher’s award?
We are the same page today! When did running a race have to become such an ordeal. Keep it simple! There’s a local trail race series here that the top finisher gets a pineapple each week. Give me something useful! Sounds like you had a blast and hanging out with Carly – extra special!
I know!! There we go – raising each other up! Maybe you can do this one next year?
Funny you should mention it, but I have 2 trail races coming up. They’re both 5ks and one is this weekend. My first ever trail race and the way running is going for me, I’m thinking that the trail race vibe is going to work for me! Great job on yours and congrats!
OMG it’s PERFECT timing! I think you will love it but you have to let go of your expectations of what a “race” is. Good luck and I can’t wait to hear all about it.
I so want to do this race next year. Especially if you do it again. I know so many people that ran it this year. Looks like such a fun event especially since the bling is a new trucker hat. Nice work speedy Allie!
OMG I would love for you to do it next year! It was so fun and seeing Carly was, of course, a bonus 🙂
You have the best sense of humor!! Ever considered stand-up comedy? Anyways, there are not much for trail races in my area, certainly not of this caliber anyways. But the few I have run have been so fun for all the DGAF reasons you mentioned.
You just totally made my day! Thank you for saying that about my sense of humor. My goal is to always be funny!!
Something about the complete unexpectedness makes this race sound appealing – along with the views! Sounds like you really enjoyed it! Hats are way better than finisher’s medals. The vibe of trail races is just so fun. I really enjoyed the small local trail race I did in January and would love to do more again. There’s trail 10K I’d love to do in November, but I don’t think I’ll be ready – maybe next year!
It was fantastic and I can’t wait to go back and hike it with the boys so I can take in all the views!
You never know – you may be ready for an “easy” trail 10K in November but you may also be totally exhausted and still recovering. So exciting!
This sounds perfect! Trail racing is definitely on my bucket list and this race sounds like an amazing experience. Love the laid back vibe and great scenery. So fun my friend and congrats xoxo
You must have some amazing trail racing options in CA!! Thanks so much friend. It was super fun!
Glad you enjoyed the race so much! I love the race director’s sense of humor. That pretty much sums up the laid back attitude of trail runners.
I absolutely love running trails and had planned to run the Hungry Mother 25K this spring if I hadn’t been injured. I agree 100% that everyone should run in a trail race every once in a while. I’d run more if they were more convenient to where I live.
Same here! We don’t have too many but I’m going to look harder for them 🙂 And I would love to do a longer trail race too. Hope you get to do that 25k next year!